Sunday, April 1, 2012

Let's Hear It For The Letter "A"

A month or so ago I was contemplating my topics for the A to Z challenge.  I was having a hard time coming up with stuff to write about.  For instance, the only thing that came to mind for the letter A was a pastry called an "Alligator."  It is deliriously delicious, but I don't think I could write a whole blog about it.  Nor would you want to READ an entire blog about them.  I could, however, EAT a whole "Alligator" while WRITING a blog, but that's kind of not the point of the challenge.  (Although, that could be a new and exciting challenge for the future - - eating baked goods with one hand while writing your blog with the other!)  In my self-deprecating way, I mocked myself for thinking of baked goods.  As much as I like baked goods, writing about them for a whole month would be self-destructive to my blog and to my girlish figure.   So, I needed another idea.

It was right in front of my eyes (or nose).  Food.  Not just baked goods, but ALL food.  A topic near and dear to my heart.   Now, I don't want you to think that I weigh 500 pounds or anything (although if that were true, I would hope you wouldn't judge me by that fact.)  I just like food.  I bet some of you do, too.  And certain foods bring certain memories, or evoke certain moods or feelings.  

So, 26 days of food it is.  Starting with the letter A . . .

                                                         AVOCADO


I love love love avocados.  In sandwiches, in tacos, in salads, in guacamole . . . or by themselves.   I just love them.   My mother-in-law says it's the Calfornia girl in me.  I don't know if that's true or not.  I don't remember eating avocados growing up in SoCal.  But I do love them now.

I googled "avocado" to see if I could come up with some interesting tidbits about the fruit.  Did you know that the Aztecs called it the "fertility fruit?"  I only have three children.  Enough said.  This next little "interesting tidbit" kind of grossed me out and made me wish I hadn't googled. 

The word "avocado" comes from the Spanish aguacate which in turn comes from the Nahuatl word ahuacatl (testicle, a reference to the shape of the fruit).

Ewww.

I asked a friend of mine, who is from Mexico (where the avocado originates), if she knew this about the avocado.  She did not, and was just as grossed out as I was.   I will not stop eating avocados because of this new fact that is forever embedded in my brain.  I will, however, never think of them in the same way.   Thanks google.

53 comments:

  1. I love Stuffed Avocado's, but I'm certainly going to think twice now about eating it! I too have 3 children and thats more than my fair share!!! Passes the next stuffed avocado to the left with a smile and a no thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never had a stuffed one - what do you stuff it with?

      Delete
    2. There are actually 2 ways I stuff them. Most like seafood stuffed avocado’s but I’m not a seafood eater except for tuna that is. One is to cut the avocado in half, remove the pits and then stuff it with your favourite seafood, tuna or chicken salad. The other way is……..1 lg. avocado….
      1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese…..2 tbsp. cream…..1 tbsp. lemon juice….3 tbsp. finely chopped blanched almonds…..3 tbsp. finely chopped ripe olives…..1 tbsp. chopped chives
      Salt & paprika to taste
      Peel and cut avocado in half, lengthwise. Remove pit and sprinkle with lemon juice to keep from darkening. Soften cream cheese; add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Stuff the avocado halves with the cheese mixture. Place the halves together, holding them securely with toothpicks. Rub with lemon juice. Wrap in waxed paper and chill thoroughly. When ready to serve, slice into 1/2" thick slices, using a very sharp knife. Serve with tart French dressing.

      Delete
  2. hmmmm, yep forever the avocado has been changed...lol. I love the theme you are going with...can't wait to see each days!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ewwwwww! Now I won't be able to eat them either!! ;) Happy A to Z!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Food! That's a great theme for the A to Z Challenge. I am a huge fan of avocado. I also grew up in SoCal but we had two large avocado trees in our yard. One produced fruit in December and the other in the summer time. We had guacamole on salad all the time! Little did I know then how lucky I was!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've never eaten avocado I've had guacomole but I don't think that counts I really will have to have some. Looking forward to B.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice posting and I love Avocado's. :) Interesting tidbits on them. I didn't know that the Aztec's consider it a fertility fruit. :) Can't wait to read your other postings in April

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am really in the mood for chips and guacamole - wanna join me?

      Delete
  7. I am not a fan of avacados or guacamole but my boyfriend's mother was Mexican so he eats them all the time although he only has one child :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the charming, lighthearted spirit in your writing! So fresh and happy! And I also love that you're writing about food... mmmm.... food... even if the A word is a fruit that's named after manly bits. Hope you're loving A to Z!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Cathy! I've got about a weeks worth of posts written already and it has been a blast!

      Delete
  9. Hi, Judy! I'd love to read your entry...sounds interesting. But, I can't read the type. It blends in with the background. Just stopped by from the challenge...enjoy the month!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Bummer! I wonder why some can read it and some can't - thanks for stopping by anyway :(

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love them as well but didn't start until I moved to San Diego. There is an awesome restaurant in Ocean Beach called the Old Townhouse. It is small and cozy and reminded me of the south (Florida). They made their salsa from scratch and put it on my favorite omelet - avocado, bacon & cheese. Yum. You've got to try one. Great theme.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Avocado and bacon - no better combination! We'll be in San Diego this summer and will definitely check out the Old Townhouse - thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  13. ummm avocodos - I just found a recipe for avocodo fries I can't wait to try

    happy A to Z
    baygirl32.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh please let me know how those fries are -yum!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. The topic is perfect!!!

    And ... I will probably burst out laughing every time I see an avocado now. *sigh*

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love avocados. My recipe on my yummy stuff blog today is avocado turkey wrap.
    I just wish they weren't so expensive here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're kind of expensive here too, Ruth - I'm going to check out your recipe :)

      Delete
  17. I'll have to read your posts after dinner, when I'm not hungry. I love guacamole, but I won't be able to think of avocados in the same way! *cringes* I don't think my husband will either. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adrienne - I'm hoping time will dim that disturbing vision in my head :)

      Delete
  18. I love avocados. Especially in guacamole!

    And I am here to welcome you to the Challenge!

    KarenG

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the welcome, Karen! It'll be fun!

      Delete
  19. I only eat them as guacamole. I'll always think of you when I see one now. Hehe.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jewels, I'm happy to be a permanent part of your life vis a vi avocado :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Loved your post and love avocados. In fact, I'm so hungry now that I'll probably have one right after posting this feedback. I have to say that the origins of the word didn't really turn me off lol... Food is already so good - but when it turns beautiful or becomes entertaining... well, just an added bonus ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by . . . and for the laugh :)

      Delete
  22. Just had some of the best "California" avocodos ever! And I agree with Jan, it is the California girl in you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Drew's an avocado lover, too -- we need to come down and get some California avocados!

      Delete
  23. I LOVE avocados! But now, thanks to you Judy, I will forever associate them with testicles! Thanks for that and because I now must forever think of testes when I'm eating them, I'm going to pass this lovely little tidbit of info on to everyone I know. Why should I be the only one grossed out? And just know, you will be responsible for women with balls on the brain, north, south, east and west! ; )

    Great post! What's tomorrow's food?? Banana perhaps?? Can't wait to see what you come up with that one.. Seems only fitting it should go with your testical avocados.. ; )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MiMi - the banana thing totally slipped by me - that's what I love about you!!

      Delete
  24. Love avocadoes, too.
    I hope you don't mind if I point out your script is very hard to read against the colored background. It might help if you made it all bold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Francene, hopefully it's a little easier to read now :)

      Delete
  25. Just got into avocados about a year ago. Love them!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I didn't grow up with avocados, so never really developed a taste for them, but the seed DOES grow an absolutely gorgeous plant!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh! I'll have to try planting the seed! Thanks, Susan!!

      Delete
  27. I want to like avocados, they look so lovely! But, sadly, I've never taken to them. I offered them to my son when he was a toddler, but he felt the same. But my daughter has loved them from the moment she tasted one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michelle - I'm going to make me a delish chocolate cake this weekend - thank you!!

      Delete
  28. I love avocado - we eat them most days, usually halved with lemon and pepper, sometimes cut up into salad. Delicious and very good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tell you, avocado is great in ANYTHING! Hmmm, avocado ice cream? I wonder . . . .

      Delete
  29. i used to love avocado but the fat calories grossed me out more than what it was named for

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you can put the name origin and the calorie thing out of your mind . . . . they really ARE good for you!

      Delete
  30. I'm so glad I already don't like avocados. Lol

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hello from one foodie to another! Thank you for stopping by my blog earlier. I'll definitely be a frequent visitor for your food alphabet!

    ReplyDelete
  32. We love them in Belgium also.. Regardless of where they are coming from or what story you can find on google About them;)
    Very often we stuff them with our tiny shrimp, called crevettes, fron the North Sea.
    You gave me an idea. I will have to write about those delicacies soon... But right now I am still in Istanbul. Back home soon.
    Anni

    ReplyDelete
  33. I had heard that about the name avocado. It doesn't make them taste any different, but it sure made me look at that pile of them in the produce section of the grocery store a little differently. ;)

    ReplyDelete